Increasing performance in the early weaned pig

Sucking pigs in 6 litters had access to an extract of cane molasses, supplied twice daily by swabbing the teats of sows with the flavouring, or had no access to the flavouring. From 7 until 35 days after weaning, the average feed intakes of the young pigs in the 2 treatments were 11.02 and 9.25 kg, producing weight gains of 5.60 and 4.58 kg, respectively; differences between treatments were significant. The benefit of the flavour existed during the weaning period and provided the impetus for increased performance after weaning, regardless of whether the flavour was present or absent in the diet after weaning. In a similar kind of experiment, liquid cane molasses was used as flavouring; there was no increase in performance but intakes of feed from 7 until 35 days old were 10.18 and 9.04 kg with and without flavouring, a significant difference. The feed intake with liquid cane molasses as flavouring was greater, irrespective of whether or not the pigs were given the flavouring after weaning.